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April 08, 2009

Vitamin D Deficiency and Tooth Decay

By Gina Nick, NMD

Here is yet another reason to consider getting tested for, and supplementing with Vitamin D3…I
am re-printing a report released by the Orthomolecular Medical Society
that discusses the connection between how much vitamin D3 you have in
your body, and tooth decay, Alzheimer’s disease, respiratory
infections, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other ailments. This
is one of many essential nutrients that the body needs
to function properly. And it happens to be an inexpensive therapy
that helps to prevent and treat some of the most expensive diseases of
our time like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Vitamin D3 works synergistically with
vitamin K and calcium to increase bone mineral density in women with
osteoporosis. Some whole food sources include organic egg yolks, raw,
organic butter (preferably from goat rather then cow), and cod liver
oil.

Cavities and gum diseases are not often regarded as serious
diseases, yet they are epidemic throughout our society, from the
youngest of children to the oldest of senior citizens. Research more
than suggests that the same good nutrition that prevents cavities and
gum diseases may also prevent other illnesses.

Dental caries and gum pathology are frequently associated with
serious chronic health problems. Multiple independent studies published
after 1990 document this. Cavities are associated with poor mental
health [1-4]. Elderly individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
had an average of 7.8 teeth with fillings vs. an average of only 2.7
fillings for elderly individuals without dementia [1]. It is likely
that the toxic heavy metal mercury, which makes up half of every
amalgam filling, is a contributing factor.

A recent authoritative review showed a clear association between
cavities and heart diseases [5]. More importantly, this same study
showed that people with poor oral health, on average, lead shorter
lives. The association between cavities and diabetes is also a subject
of active, ongoing research [6-8]. Connections between heart disease,
diabetes, and dental decay have been suspected for decades. Many of the
scientists who called attention to this have proposed that diets high
in sugar and refined carbohydrates were the common cause of these
diseases [9-15].

Dental diseases, mental diseases, heart disease, infectious
respiratory diseases, and heart disease are all at least partially
caused by common failures in metabolism. Such failures are inevitable
when there is a deficiency of essential nutrients, particularly
vitamins D, C, and niacin.

There is especially strong evidence for a relationship between
vitamin D deficiency and cavities. Dozens of studies were conducted in
the 1930’s and 1940’s [16-27]. More than 90% of the studies concluded
that supplementing children with vitamin D prevents cavities.
Particularly impressive was a study published in 1941 demonstrated the
preventative affect of “massive” doses of vitamin D [28]. And yet no
subsequent studies in the scientific literature suggested a need to
follow up and repeat this work.

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to respiratory infections, cancer,
heart disease, diabetes and other ailments [29]. The evidence for
vitamin C was reviewed by Linus Pauling [15], and the evidence for
niacin was reviewed by Abram Hoffer [30].

Obtaining vitamins in sufficient doses to help prevent dental
disease is safe and easily accomplished. Between 5,000 and 15,000 IU of
vitamin D may be obtained from modest exposure to sunshine in the
middle of the day. Recommending that people regularly use the capacity
of their skin to make vitamin D is common sense. Certainly 1,000 to
2,000 IU per day of vitamin D in supplemental form is safe. 2,000
milligrams per day of vitamin C, and hundreds of milligrams per day of
niacin, help prevent tooth and mouth troubles. Sick individuals, and
those who are prone to cavities, will typically benefit by starting
with higher doses of vitamin D, vitamin C, and niacin under the
supervision of an orthomolecular physician.

We believe that individuals taking these nutrients, along with good
dental care, will have dramatically fewer cavities and gum operations
than individuals just getting good dental care. This idea is easily
tested, and the time has come to do so.

51 Comments

Cavities and gum diseases are not often regarded as serious diseases, yet they are epidemic throughout our society, from the youngest of children to the oldest of senior citizens,you right thank you for bringing up this matter.

Vitamins are known to us for over 100 years. They have written and said quite a lot. But what are vitamins? What are they different from other biologically active substances? Once upon a time there were more than two dozen, but now vitamins include all 13 compounds. At the same time, there are the so-called "vitaminopodobnye substance." What are they different from the vitamins? Let's start with the definition of "vitamins."

Vitamins - essential organic substances necessary to sustain the vital functions of the organism involved in the regulation of biochemical and physiological processes, biomolecules with a predominantly regulatory functions entering the body with food, "" indispensable (essential) food substances which do not occur in formed in the body or not enough. "
vitamin+health

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble prohormones, the two major forms of which are vitamin D2 (or ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (or cholecalciferol).[1] Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements, is biologically inert and must undergo two hydroxylation reactions to be activated in the body. Calcitriol (1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol) is the active form of vitamin D found in the body. The term vitamin D also refers to these metabolites and other analogues of these substances.

Vitamin D Deficiency Syndrome (VDDS) exists when 25(OH)D levels of less than 25 ng/mL are found in patients with two or more of the following conditions: osteoporosis, heart disease, hypertension and autoimmune diseases